JOHN TO
RECEIVE THE JOHN STEINBECK AWARDFor the first time since Joan Baez in 2003, a musician will receive the
prestigious John Steinbeck Award, "in the souls of the people."
On Monday, July 30th, at the historic California Theatre in San Jose, CA, Thomas
Steinbeck will present the John Steinbeck Award to singer/songwriter/activist
John Mellencamp. "A Conversation and Special Performance" will include a talk
with Mellencamp, moderated by Robert Santelli, executive director of the Grammy
Museum, and musical performance from Mellencamp.

Upon receiving the John Steinbeck Award, Mellencamp will have his name further linked to that of the legendary Baez on a select list of two as the only recipients of both the Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie awards. Mellencamp received the Guthrie award in 2003.

The John Steinbeck Award has been called "a beacon for the left" and its list of recipients "a who&#39;s who of disturbers." Previous recipients of the John Steinbeck Award are: Bruce Springsteen, Arthur Miller, Studs Terkel, Dolores Huerta, John Sayles, Jackson Browne, Garrison Keillor, Joan Baez, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, and Rachel Maddow.

Of John Mellencamp, Thomas Steinbeck, noted author and the surviving son of John Steinbeck, said: "My father always carried a deep and profound respect for songwriters and musicians. He felt they were the voice of the people and had the unique opportunity to reach the very souls of the people. Like Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, and a handful of others, John Mellencamp has done just that. He has spent his life serving as a voice for the people.

"John&#39;s 40-year career makes one marvel. As an artist, John Mellencamp has been a superb singer-songwriter-storyteller; as an exemplary activist, and as a creator and longtime champion of Farm Aid, he has maintained the true spirit of John Steinbeck&#39;s compassion for the worker. Without question, John Mellencamp has earned the John Steinbeck Award, and it will be my great pleasure to present it to him."

John commented, "John Steinbeck's remarkable ability to give voice to the common man and to people on society's margins, to describe their plight and aspirations, continues to inspire us more than a century after his birth. I'm very honored to be the recipient of an award given in his name." Click
HERE to read the complete
press release.

STEINBECK TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY
Tickets to the Steinbeck Award event and special performance go on sale via
TicketMaster on Friday, June 8th at 10 AM local. There may be a pre sale opportunity
for Mellencamp.com Newsletter
Subscribers,
please watch Mellencamp.com&#39;s TOUR page for updates. Tickets will range from $55 to
$100.

IT&#39;S ABOUT YOU - OUT TODAY ON BLU-RAY & DVD! Mellencamp is captured on film as he creates one of his most acclaimed records, No Better Than This, by going back to the source of the sound he loves. The film includes live footage from his tour with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson from the same summer as the creation of the album. It&#39;s About You, comes to high-definition, audio-enhanced Blu-ray and DVD available now from MPI Home video via the Mellencamp.com Store. Click HERE to read the full MPI Press Release You can also catch the film on Showtime in May & June.Click HERE for airtimes.

IT&#39;S ABOUT YOU - PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY!
Seven lucky winners will receive a copy of John Mellencamp, Itís About You A Film By Kurt and Ian Markus DVD, a No Better Than This T-shirt, an It&#39;s About You exclusive Autographed Poster and the No Better Than This CD!
Step 1: Put "I want an It&#39;s About You prize pack" in your facebook status.Step 2: Once you update your status with "I want an It&#39;s About Your prize pack" reply -"No Better Than This" to the contest thread on John&#39;s facebook page.

IT&#39;S THAT EASY!

Via lottery, winners will be selected by end of the day on Monday, June 18th, 2012 with the winners being announced on Tuesday, June 19th.

LAST WEEK - CATALOG AVAILABLE - TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM NOTHING LIKE I PLANNED THE ART OF JOHN MELLENCAMPThe paintings of John Mellencamp are featured in his first museum exhibition, Nothing Like I Planned: The Art of John Mellencamp, open now running through June 10, 2012 at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. The exhibition offers 52 paintings, spanning four decades of efforts including numerous pieces that have never been exhibited previously. The showing is free to the public.

Visit the Mellencamp.com NEWS page to read several articles written about the exhibition, and read some enlightening interviews with discussions and Q & A&#39;s from John about the exhibit at Rolling Stone, ArtInfo, and Nashville ArtScene. Click HERE to purchase the newly releasedcatalog from the exhibit. (cover image and details below).

PREMIUM TICKET PACKAGES SALES ENDING - TOUR STARTS IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS! John&#39;s Canadian tour starts in just under two weeks! Don&#39;t miss your chance to see John on his great No Better Than This Tour. Each Canadian concert features No Better Than This Tour Premium Ticket Packages. Each package includes a premium ticket in the first 10 rows along with an impressive set of exclusive, and collectible, Mellencamp items! Sales end two weeks before each show date. There are only a few seats left, so be sure to act quickly!

No Better Than This Tour Premium Ticket Package Details
Package includes:* One reserved ticket located in the first 10 rows of the stage
* Specially designed tour shirt
* Collectible tour poster (limited, numbered)
* Limited edition vinyl copy of John Mellencampís album No Better Than This
* Commemorative tour laminate
* Early entry into venue
* Crowd-free merchandise shopping
* On-site host

The paintings of John Mellencamp that are currently being featured in his first museum exhibition, "Nothing Like I Planned" at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. This catalog of the exhibition contains 49 paintings, spanning four decades of output. This fully illustrated color book contains an essay by nationally-known art writer, Hilarie M Sheets. Visit the store today!